parmenter



(Np Mode 1.) 8 O. L. PARMENTER.

MATERIAL. .FOR BGGORATES.

No. 374,849. Patented Dec. 18,1887. 6

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

ORVILLE L. PARMENTER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES 'D. HATCH, JOHN RPRIOE, AND JENNIE T. TARMENTER, ALL OF SAME PLACE. I

MATERIAL FOR EGG-CRATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 374,849, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed June 20, 1887. Serial No. 241,864. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORVILLE L. PARMEN- 'IER, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Material for Egg- Grates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to material for eggcrates, as anew article of manufacture, in which a thin strip of wood is folded lengthwise, the grain of the wood running crosswise of the I 5 strip. A second wooden strip is folded in the outer strip, the-grain of wood in the second strip running lengthwise thereof, the parts, when assembled, being preferably stitched together, to the end that a better and cheaper 2o material for egg-crates is thus had than has heretofore been used.

Heretofore in the manufacture of egg-crates straw-board has been largely used on account of its cheapness. The common practice has been to pile the several crates in a boxthe one crate above the other-each crate containing a layer of eggs, with the different crates separated by sheets of straw-board or other suitable material. Straw-board has objectionable qualities for such purpose, to wit: If the straw-board becomes damp, as it is likely to do from the breakage of eggs or from absorbing moisture from the atmosphere, it loses its stiffness, and in such case at least the lower crates and contents are likely to be crushed;

also, the straw-board, when damp, emits unpleasant odors, that impregnate and deteriorate the eggs. I I have therefore devised the wooden material illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 are views in perspective, the former showing the two stripsof wood in position, with the outer strip partially folded, and the latter showing the outer strip folded 5 down over the inner strip, with the parts stitched together, ready for assembling in the crate. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing a modification. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a portion of an egg-crate; and Fig.

5 is a view in perspective, partly in section,

woods as sycamore, beach, maple, and variousother species.

In manufacturing my improved material short logs of suit-able wood are setin a machine well known for such purposes, and thin sheets of woodare pared off circumferentially, knives being had to dividethe sheet into strips of the required width and other knives to cut the sheet into lengths. For egg-crates the outer sheet, A, before folding, is usually about four inches and aquarter wide, abouttwelve inches (more or less) in length, and about a sixtyfourth of an inch in thickness The grain of the wood runs crosswise of the strip. a The strip A is folded lengthwise on the center line, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. A strip, B, made of the same material, but with the grain of wood running lengthwise thereof, is laid in the fold of strip A. The two sides of the strip A are then stitched together, as shown at b,' Fig. 2, forming a pocket, in which the strip B is located, after which slits a are made for interlocking the different strips to form the crate. (See Fig. 4..)

Instead of securing the strip B in place by stitches passing through the sides of strip A near the edge, but not through the strip B, the parts can be secured by stitchespassing through both strips A and B, as shown by dotted lines y y in Fig. 5. The stripsB are usuallylaid at '85 the bottom of the fold, as shown in Fig. 2; but, if preferred, the strip B may be laid with the outer edgethereof flush with the edges of strip A, as shown in Fig. 3. Either way will answer the purpose equally well. The strip Bprevents strip A from splittng.

It will be observed that whatever weight is sustained by the crates in piling them as aforesaid such weight will come endwise of the grain of wood ofgthe outside strip, A, and this, being doubled, is abundantly able to sustain any weight necessary in practice. It is well known that endwise of the grain damp wood is substantially as stiff and strong as dry wood. There is therefore no danger of the crates 00 ond strip being secured in the fold of the outer strip, substantially as set forth.

2. A material for egg-crates, comprising an outer wooden strip folded lengthwise, the grain of the wood running crosswise of the strip, and a second strip having the grain of wood running lengthwise thereof, the second strip being inclosed in the fold of the outer strip and the parts being stitched together, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 1st day of June, 1887.

ORVILLE L. BARMENTER. Witnesses:

CHAS. H. DORER, ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

